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While pregnant with my first son, I decided to go natural and cut off the majority of my hair. Women told me stories of how pregnancy gave them great skin and healthy hair. My hair looked great and it did grow. In fact, I did not go to the salon for a year. When I did, she only trimmed half an inch of six inches of growth. After birth, I kept up the same routine and noticed the growth was more attributed to a lifestyle and routine change than pregnancy. My hair has grown to be quite long, but, more so than that, it is healthy.
Here are a few practical tips and relatively inexpensive ways to grow healthy hair:
1. Transition away from relaxers
African-American women with 3c, 4a and 4b hair types are most susceptible to damage. The tighter your kinks or coils, the more fragile each strand of hair. When relaxed, the strands become even more fragile and tend to break easily. Relaxing your hair limits growth potential which places bounds on versatility. For those who are not comfortable going too short, transitioning is the key. As your natural hair grows out, cut an inch of relaxed hair per month. Don’t mind the shedding. Your relaxed ends will begin break as a result of the natural being stronger. Focus on cultivating the new growth and experiment with styles.
2. Take prenatal vitamins
A daily multi-vitamin is good for everyone, but prenatal vitamins are even better. They contain almost double the daily intake of all the essentials. There is no harm in taking them outside of nursing and pregnancy. In fact, most doctors recommend them for women only considering having children. Vitamin E is especially great for hair growth and, with prenatal vitamins, you get a double dose.
3. Drink eight glasses of water daily
This is something everyone knows to do, but most of us don’t. Water helps keep your hair moisturized, which is especially important for Black women because our hair is naturally dry. To help keep yourself drinking water, try carrying around a refillable bottle (be green!). I also recommend eliminating other beverages like soda. Keep fruit juices and teas to a minimum by only having a glass with your three main meals.
4. Wash your hair every three days
Hair grows faster on a clean scalp. The massaging and lack of product residue enables growth. It will also keep your curls looking fresh.
5. Purchase moisturizing and protein-containing shampoos and conditioners
Investing in quality products is beneficial. Black hair needs more, more and more moisture. Additionally, you want shampoos and conditioners with proteins. I also recommend using brands that contain natural ingredients. My favorite combination stems from the Aveda line, Shampure Shampoo (aveda.com, $9) and Damage Remedy Conditioner (aveda.com, $24).
6. When heat styling, always use a repellent
If you are going to blow dry or straighten your hair, always use a product that protects. There are various leave-in conditioners, humidity-fighters and smoothing products that contain ingredients to protect against heat-styling. Be sure to use one on your hair before applying any heat.
7. Keep heat to once per month
Heat-styling should be held to a minimum. It’s guaranteed that some damage will be done to your hair. Limit yourself to one straightening session per month and stray from your washing routine for a week. Be sure to wrap it up at night with a silk scarf to prevent damage and the use of more heat to keep it up.
8. Minimize usage of combs and brushes
The less you do to your hair the better. It will grow best and be healthiest when you let it flow freely. Use curly-girl products like Miss Jessie’s or Mixed Chicks to style and tame coils. Do not brush or comb your hair, because it causes breakage. It will also separate your curls, which will make your coils frizzy. As long as your hair is moisturized, it will look and feel great.
